Police: Florida teen tries twice to cash fake check from Ohio

Authorities said he used a Cuban passport as ID

MACUNGIE, Pa. - Authorities in Lehigh County allege a Florida teenager used a Cuban passport in hopes of cashing a forged check from an Ohio car dealership.

Norlen Rodriguez Garcia, of Miami, Fla., faces two felony counts of forgery after police said he tried unsuccessfully at two banks to cash a fake check. District Judge Donna Butler arraigned the 19-year-old Friday night, setting bail at $25,000.

Macungie police said Garcia walked into the Key Bank off Route 100 in the Fogelsville area of Upper Macungie Township about 1:30 p.m. Friday and tried to cash the phony check, according to court records. The $6,108 check from Greg Sweet Chevrolet in Conneaut, Ohio, was made out to Garcia, police said.

He provided the teller with a Cuban passport and a Florida identification. Bank staff made copies of the passport and ID and determined the check was forged. The teller told Garcia that he needed to return on Monday because of the amount of the check.

Garcia showed up at the Key Bank in Macungie at 201 W. Main St. about 30 minutes later with the same check and two forms of ID, according to records. Staff there also figured out that the check was a phony, and the Fogelsville branch had notified other Key Bank branches about the check.

Macungie police were dispatched to the bank and apprehended Garcia without incident as he tried to leave.

After failing to post bail, Garcia was sent to Lehigh County Jail to await a preliminary hearing tentatively scheduled for June 30.

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